Reclining article of furniture



Nov. 20, 1951 A. LORENZ RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fild Jan. 21, 1947 INVENTOR fl/vm/v la /v2 2' l5 ATTO RN EY Nov. 20', 195-1 A. LORENZ 2,575,831

RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Jan. 21, 1947 V s Sheets-Sheet 2 N V E N TO R 4mm L oa /v2 BY W22.

HIS ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1951 A. LORENZ RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Jan. 21, 1947 FIG. 9

FIG.8

INVENTOR Antun LORE/VZ Patented Nov. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PAT OFFICE.

2,575,881- RECLI'NiNG ARTICLE OF FURNITURE" Anton Lorenz Buffalo, Nt- Y.

Application J anuary21, 1947 Serial Not 7233414 This is a continuation in part ofabandoned patent application Sera #640,264. filed Jan. 10,

1946 for A Reclining Articleof Furniture? the. latter being. a continuation in part of patent application Ser. #580,378 filed March 1, 1945for A Reclining Article of Furniture which matured into U. S. Patent 2,433,521,

The present invention relates. to articles of furniture, and' more: particularly to a, reclining; article offurniture, wherein the seat and. a downward extensional the back-restform movable links of a polygonal compound linkage swingably mounted on asupport, a portion of the latter forming the stationary link of? said provide a reclining: articleof furniture of above;

described type with means; by which the user of: the article of furniture may alter the inclination of the back-rest while the seat is held in a": predetermined position;

A" further object of the present invention isto provide a reclining article of furniture of above described type with means; by' which the user of the furniture mayalter the inclination of the seat while the back-rest is held in a predtermined position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a r'ecliningarticle of furniture of above described type with means, by which the user of the article of furniture may alter the degree" of the change in" the inclination of the back-rest from the sitting position into the ex treme reclining position while the degree of the change in the inclination of the seat from the sitting position into the extreme reclining posi-' tion remains substantially unchanged.-

A further object of the present invention is to provide a" reclining article" of' furniture of above described type with: means. by which the user ofthe article of furniture may alter the degree of change in the inclination of the-seat from the sitting position into the extreme recliningl position while the-degree of. the change 2 in the inclination of the back-rest from thesitti ngt position into the extreme reclining posi; tion. remains; substantially unchanged.

sun another object of the present inventionis to improve upon reclining articles of furniture asnow ordinarily made.

With the. above and other objects of the inven-, tiontinview, the invention-consists in the novel. construction, arrangement. and combination of W various devices, elements and parts, as setforth in. theclaims. hereof, certain embodiments of. the. same being described in the specification and being illustrated in the accompanying? draW- ings forming part ofthis specification; wherein;

Fig. l is a: side elevational: view of? an adjust-- able reclining chair according. to the invention, a. portion of the side wall of the. support of the chair being-broken away Fig 2 is a; sectional view ofa: locking device of the chair shown in Eig. 1 in an enlarged scale Fig 3 isa side elevational View of another embodiment of an adjustable reclining chair ac:- cording to the invention, a portion of aside wall of t he support being broken away,

Fig. 4 isa side elevation view of afurther. embodiment at an adjustable reclining chair ac-- cording to the invention,- wherein said chair is provided with: a legrestand; with means for adjusting the" relative position between the backrest and: theseat aportion of aside cover of the casing forming the support beingbroken awayh Fig. 5 is at side elevational view of another embodiment. of a reclining chair according to'- the invention; a portionof the sidewall of-the support-being broken-away,

Figs 6 is a side elevational view of another embodiment-of a reclining. chair according to the invention, a portionot the sidewall of the sup port being brokenaway;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view' of the support of the: chair showm in Fig. 6, a unit pertaining; to the system! of movable members of the chair being mounted inthe' support,

Fig. 8- isa fragmentary side elevationalview' of the" safety device arranged on the supportrfon holding the" unit of the chair shown in Fig.- 6 in'itsposition and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of aldiiferent embodiment of a unit which may be used in the chairshownin'Fig. 6.

Referring, nowto Figs, 1 and: 2,. l0 generally indicates a support in the shape of a casing, which may be of any suitable; material, such wood, metal plastic-or the like.

The rear end portion of a seat 28 is pivoted to the support I8 at l5. On each side of the chair, the upper end portion of a front link 30 is pivoted to the seat 28 at 32. The lower end portion of said front link 30 is pivotally connected at 34 with the lower portion of a connecting link l8, the upper portion of which is pivoted at 28 to the support I!) at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the seat 28 and the support l8. Thus, the seat 28, the front link 30, the connecting link l8 and the stationary portion of the support I 8 between the pivotal shown in Fig. 1, the sitting position of the movconnection 28 of the connecting link l8 with the v A support It] and the pivotal connection of the seat 28 with the support l8 form the links of a four-bar link mechanism.

A back-rest i2 is pivoted to the support l8 at M at a point spaced from the pivotal connection l5 of the seat 28 with the support l8. Said backrest I2 has a downward extension I6 projecting beyond the pivotal connection I 4 of the back-rest l2 with thesupport. According to Fig. l said downward extension 13 is integral with *said back-rest l2; if desired, however, said downward extension 16 and said back-rest I2 may be made of separate pieces rigidly connected with each other in any suitable manner. On each side of the chair the rear end portion of a lower link 22 is pivoted to the downward extension iii of the back-rest H2 at 26 at a point below the pivotal connection I4 between the back-rest l2 and the support I8. The front end portion of each lower connecting link 22 is pivoted at 24 to an extension 62 of the connecting link 18 projecting beyond the pivotal connection 34 of the connecting link It; with the front link 38. I

As will be apparent from above, the seat 28 and the downward extension N5 of the back-rest I2jform movable links of a polygonal compound h linkage comprising the movable links 28, 38, [8-32, 22, IE and the stationary links represented by the stationary portion of the support In between the pivots l4 and l5 and the stationary portion of the support 18 between the pivots I5 and 28' When the user of the chair leans the weight of his body against the backrest [2 for moving same from its sitting position shown in full lines into the reclined position shown in dash and dot lines, the front link 38 pivotally connected with the connecting link l 8--62, which in turn is connected with the downward extension I 6 of the back-rest l2 through the medium of the lower link 22, controls the movements of the seat 28, so that the latter is brought'from its sitting position shown in full lines into its reclined position shown in dash and dot lines. During said movement of the members of the chair from the sitting position into the reclined position, the angle between the backrest l2 and the seat 28 is increased;

As will'be readily understood, the degree of lifting the seat 28 depends on the length of the front link 30 and its connections with the connecting link l8 and the seat 28. 'For example, if the front link 38 were of shorter length and were connected with the connecting link l8 at a point above the pivot 34, the seat 28 would be lifted to a lesser degree when the proportions of above mentioned polygonal compound linkage remain unchanged and the back-rest I2 is brought into the extreme reclined position shown in Fig. 1. In other words, owing to above described control of the seat 28 by the front link 30 pivoted to the connecting link 18, the designer of the chair has a wide rangefor'obt'air'ling dif- 1 able members of the chair is limited by the wall 36 of the recess 38 of the support l8 receiving the seat 28 in its sitting position. The extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair is limited by the inclined wall 43 of the support In cooperating with the back-rest I2.

' support I 3.

On each side of the chair an arm rest 42 is rigidly secured to the back-rest l2 by screws 44 or the like. r

A locking device generally indicated by 48 may be used for holding the movable members of the chair in any desired adjusted position. Ac-

cording to Figs. 1 and 2 said locking device 46 comprises a bar 48 swingably mounted on a frame member of the seat 28 at 50. Said bar 48 has a slot 52 for slidable engagement with a bolt 54'having a square portion 58 inserted into a corresponding square aperture of the support 13. The bolt 54 has on one of its ends a head 58 for engagement with a surface of the bar. A locking knob 68 is screwed onto the opposite threaded end of the bolt 54 projecting from the If the locking knob 68 is loosened the bar 48 may be freely moved, so that the seat 28 and the other movable members of the chair connected with the seat may be brought into any desired position. If, however, the locking knob 63 is tightened, so that it clamps the bar 48 by means of the head 58 and the bolt 54 against the support [8, the seat and the movable members of the chair connected therewith are firmly held in their position.

Fig. 3 illustrates another embodiment of an adjustable reclining chair according to the invention. The rear end portion of the seat 328 is swingably mounted on the casing-like support 3l0 at 315. The upper end of a front link 330 is pivoted to said seat 328 at 332. The lower end of said front link 338 is pivoted at 334 to the lower end of a connecting link 3l8, the upper end of which is swingably mounted on the support 3H) at 320. a

A back-rest 3i2 having a downward extension 316 is swingably mounted on the support 3l8 at 314 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 3|5 between the seat 328 and the support 3l8.

The rear end portion of a lower link 322 is pivoted to said extension 316 of the back-rest 3E2 at 326. The front end portion of said lower link 322 is pivotally. connected at 324 with the connecting link 3l8 at an intermediate point thereof between its pivotal connections 328 and 334 with the support 3l8 and the front link 330 respectively.

An arm rest 342 is rigidly secured to the backrest 3|2 at 344.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair limited. by the wall 336 is shown in full lines, while the extreme reclined position of the movable members limited by the abutting wall 340 is shown in dash and dot lines.

The movable members of the chair may be held assume! .in any .desired position :by.means oi the docking device 346.

Thetmechanismof therecliningtchairtshown in A is similar to .the mechanism'of thepchair shown in Fig. l. .The chaireshown inFig. .4-,however, is provided with means whereby the eficctive length .of the lower .link 422, the connecting link 4l8-and the seat 428 may .be varied and adjusted as will .be described hereinafter. Theseat-428 swingably mounted on the support -4 Iii-at 415 has aseries of holes 41-4. A pin 432 passing through a bore of the front link 430 may baselectively engaged with one hole'of-said series of holes 414. :Likewise, :the connecting link 4L8 swingably .mounted on the support at 420 is providedwitha seriesof holes 412 .forselective engagement with again-434 passing through abore of the lowerzend of. the front link 4311.

. The downward extension .4; of .theback-Prest M2 .swingably mounted on :the support M is provided with a .first series of .holes 468 a second series of holes 468. A pin-426 :passing through a bore'of the lower link --422.may beselectively engaged-withone holeof theseries ofholes 466. The front end portionofthelower link 42.2 isprovided with a series of holes 410. A pin 424 passing throughabore-of .the extension 1462 of the connecting link 4l8.may be selectively engaged withone hole of the series of holes .410 ofthe lower-link 422.

A leg-rest 416 swingablyrmounted on the front portion of the seat428-at 418 .is provided with-a series of holes480. Oneend of a-controlling link 482 is provided with a .seriesof holes .484; said endof the controlling link 4'82 is pivotally connected with the leg-rest 416 byimeans of a pin 486 inserted .into one holeof the-seriesof holes 484andinto a hole of -the series of holes 480. In a similar manner the-other endof theeontrolling link 482 vhaving a series of holes 488 is pivotally connected with the downward extension "4l6 of the back-rest M2 by means of a pin 480 fitting into one of the holes 468. As will-be readily-understood, the selective engagement of the pins 485 and 498 witha holeof the series of holes 484 and 488 of thecontrolling :link 48 2ipermits a variation of the efiective-lengthlof the latter.

. 492 indicates aside wall of the support MB. :A substantial portion of said side wall 492 is "de- .tachably mounted .inthe casing :forming the 'support M0 by means of screws 494, so that theuser of the'chairmay have accesstothe mechanismof the chair after removal of .said covering side wall 432 for a purpose .to be described. hereinafter. 485 indicates an aperture of the casing 4 to for the passage of the controlling link .482.

The sitting position of the .movablemembers of the chair is limited'iby ars'topJB'B arranged .on the support 4H] for cooperation with the seat 428, and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair jislimited by the inclined wall 440 cooperating with the back-rest.

The adjustable reclining chairs'hown in Fig. .4 is equipped with a first locking device generally indicated by 446 and a second locking device generally indicated by 49.8. Both locking devices are of the type shown in "Fig. '2 and described above in connection withthe 'chairis'hown'in Fig. 1. The locking bar 448 of the first locking device 446is swing'ably mounted on the seat 428 at 58, .so that said locking device" 446 'is associated with the seat and the support. The locking bar 491 of the second locking device 498 is swingably mounted on the .connectinglink M8 at 489, so .lthatthe second locking device 488 isassociated 1:6 with said aconnecting link :418 and zthe support 418. :If the movable membersof the chair are :connected with :each other as :shown in Fig. 4, they may he .heldiin any desired adjusted jposition .by tightening :eitherone of the locking devices 446.01'488.

.=If the user ofthe-ehair wishes to have the backrestat adifierent angle relative to the seatwhen the latter is in a certain position, "he mayhold the seat in' said certain position by a tightening 'of' the locking device 446. The other locking device 498 remains in loose condition. Now, the userof the chair may changethezposition of the pivotal connection-426betweenthe lower link 422 and the downward extension 4l6 of the backirest fl 2 byinserting .thepin 426 into another. hole of .theseries-of holes 468 whereby the "angle between the back-rest M2 and theseat 428may be changed. If, furthermore, a change in the zaingle between the leg-rest and theseat is desirable, a such an adjustment may be obtained by varying the position of the pivotal connection :'486-:and'/or 4'80 "by inserting the respective pins ;into other holes of the series: of holes.

When the user'of the chair Wishes to have the seat in a different positionrelative to the backrest "when the latter is in a certainreclinedgposh tion, 'thebac'kn'est is'hel'cl in said position by a tightening of "the locking device 498, while the -Llcckin'g device "446 remains :in loose condition. Now, "the-user of the chair :may brin the seat :intoa different'position relative to the back-rest by altering the position of the pivotal connection 482 and/or 434 by inserting the respective pins into another hole of thezseries of holes 414 and/0M".

Above described change in the position of the 3back+rest 4i2 and/or'the seat 428 causes a change in the degree of change of angularity between the back-rest and the seat during a movement from the sitting position into the reclined position. If the back-rest alone is adjusted in a dif- 'ferent position, the degree of thechange of inclination of the seat will remain substantially unchanged. If the seat alone is adjusted in a 'diiferent position, the degree of the change of inclination-of the back-rest will remain substantially unchanged.

According"to the embodiment of a reclining chair shown in Fig. 5, the rear end portion of the seat 528 is 'swingably mounted on. the support 510 at 515. The upper end portion of the :iron't link 53B is'p'ivo'ted to the seat 528 at 532, the lower end portion of said front link 530 is pivoted to a connecting link 5|8 at 534. Said connecting dink-518 is of bent shape and has its upper end portion pivoted to the support 5" at 520. Furthermore, said bent connecting'llnk 518 has :an extension 562 pivotally connected with'the-rront end of 'a lower link 5'22 at"524. The rear end of said lower link 522 is pivoted at 526 to the downward extension "5H5 of a back-rest 51 2 swin'gably mounted onthe support 510 at 5l-4 at a pointspaced from the pivotal connection 565 between the seat 528 and the support 5111.

.Afleg-rest 5' l6 pivoted to the frontportion of the seat 528 at 518 has an upward extension511.

One end "of a controlling link 542 representing an arm rest is pivoted to said upward extension 51"! of the leg-rest515 at 519, the other end of said controlling link 542 is pivotally connected with the back-west 5L2 at544.

.The sitting position of the movable members of the adjustable reclinin chair is shown in full lines. When the user of the chair leans ithe weight of his body against the back-rest 512, the movable members of the chair are brought into the reclined position shown in dash and dot lines in Fig. 5. During such a displacement of the movable members of the chair from the sitting position into the extreme reclined position, the front end portion of the lower link 522 may pass through a slot 595 of the front wall of the casinglike support I].

The movable members of the chair may be held in any desired position by means of the locking device 546.

According to the embodiment of a reclining chair shown in Fig. 6, the back-rest 6 I 2 is pivoted tothe support 6H1 at H4. The rear end of the'seat 628 is pivoted to the support 6|0 at H5 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 6|4 between the back-rest N2 and the support 610.

The back-rest has a downward extension 6| 6 substantially in the center of the chair. The rear end of a single telescopic lower link 622 is pivoted to said extension N6 of the back-rest H2 at 626. The front end of said lower link 622 is pivoted at 624 to an intermediate point of a single connecting link 6!!! arranged substantially in the center of the chair. The upper portion of said connecting link H8 is rigidly connected with a transverse rod 62l rotatably arranged in .recesses 602 of the side walls of the casing-like support 6!!! (see Figs. 7 and 8). The rod 62! is prevented from axial displacement by collars 604 mounted thereon. The connecting link 618 and the rod 62l positively connected with each other form a unit generally indicated by M9 which may be readily inserted into the recesses 602 open at the top, when the elements of the chair are assembled. The unit MS may be held in its position by safety members 666 attached to the side walls of the support 610 by screws. Theconnecting link 6! is of bent shape. The lower end of a telescopic front link 63!] is pivoted to the lower end of the connecting link 6| 8 at 634. The upper end of said front link 630 is pivoted to the seat 628 at 632. The effective length of said telescopic front link 630 may be varied and adjusted by means of the set screw 63L Likewise, the effective length of the lower link'622 may be adjusted by means of the set screw 623.

During a movement of the movable members of the chair from the sitting position limited by'the upper edge of the support 6H] and shown in full lines into the extreme reclined position limited by the stop 646 and shown in dash and dot lines, the connectin link M8 and the front link 630 may pass through an aperture 695 in the front wall of the support 6 I 6.

The movable members of the chair may be held in any desired position by means of the locking device 646.

Fig. 9 illustrates a different embodiment of a unit 6l9a which may be substituted for the unit 619 of the chair shown in Figs. 6 and 7. According to Fig. 9 the unit 6I9a is made of an integral piece of material shaped in suitable manner.

v I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration, that the invention may also be applied to various other t pes of reclining articles of furniture, such as garden chairs, chairs for use in railroad cars, chairs for use in airplanes, sofas, loungets, etc., and that various omissions or changes in shape,

proportion and arrangementof parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those, herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A reclining article of furniture, comprising: a support, a seat pivoted to said support at its rear end portion, a connecting link, the upper portion of said connecting link being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the seat and the support, a front link, the upper end portion of said front link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, the lower end portion of said front link being pivoted to the lower portion of said connecting link, said seat, said front link,said connecting link and the stationary portion of the support between the pivotal connections of the connecting link with the support and of the seat with the support forming the links of a fourbar link-mechanism, a back-rest, said back-rest being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from and out of coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection of the seat with the support, said back-rest having a downward extension projectin g' beyond its pivotal connection with the support, and a lower link, the rear end of said lower link being pivoted to said downward extension of the back-rest below the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the support, and the front portion of s-aid lower link being pivoted to a point of the connecting link spaced from its pivotalconnection with the front link.

2. A reclining article of furniture, comprising: a support, a seat pivoted to said support at its rear end portion, a connecting link, the upper portion of said connecting link being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the seat and the support, a front link, the upper end portion of said front link bein pivoted to the front portion of said seat, the lower end portion of said front link being pivoted to the lower portion of said connecting link, said seat, said front link, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the support between the pivotal connections of the connecting link with the support and of the seat with the support forming the links of a fourbar link-mechanism, said connecting link having an extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the front link, a back-rest, said back-rest being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from and out of coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection of the seat with the support, said back-rest having a downward extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the support, and a lower link, the rear end of said lower link being pivoted to said downward extension of the back-rest below the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the support, and the front portion of said lower link bein pivoted to said extension of the connectinglink.

3. A reclining article of furniture, comprising: a support, a seat pivoted to said support at its rear end portion, a connecting link, the upper portion of said connecting link being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the seat and the support, a front link, the upper end portion of said front link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, the lower end portion of said front link being pivoted to the lower portion of said connecting link, said seat, said front link, said consweater necting link and the stationary portion of the;

support between the'pivotal connections of the connecting-link with the support andoftheseat with the support forming the links of a fourbar link-mechanism, a back-rest, said back-rest being'pivoted to said support at a point spaced from and outof coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection of the seat with the support, said.

back-rest having a downward extension project-- ing beyond its pivotal connection with the sup port, a lower link, the rear end of said lower link being pivoted to said downward extension of the back-rest below the pivotalconnec-tion be tween the back-rest and the support, the front portion of said lowerlink being pivotedtoapoint of the connecting link spaced from its pivotal connection with the front link, and means whereby the effective length of said connecting link may be varied and adjusted.

4. A reclining article of furniture, compris ing: a support, a seat pivoted to said support at its rear end portion, a connecting link, the up-- per portion of said connecting link being pivoted to said support ata point spaced from'the pivotal connection between the seat and the-support, a frontlink, the upper end portion of said front link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, the lower end portion of said front link being pivoted to the lower portion of said connecting link; saidseat; said front link, said connecting link and the stationary portion' of the support between thepivotal connections of theconnecting link-with the support andof the seat with the support forming the links of a four-bar link-mechanism, aback-rest, said backrest being pivoted to said support at a pointspaced from and out of coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection of the-seat with thesup port, said back-rest having a downward extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection 5-; with the support, a lower link, the rear'end of and means whereby the effective length of said lower link may be varied and adjusted.

5. A reclining article of furniture, comprising:

a support, aseat pivoted to said support at its rear end portion, a connecting'link, the upper portion of said-connecting link being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between theseat and the support, a

front link, the upper end portion of said'front' link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, the lower end portion of said front' link being pivoted to the lower portion of said connecting link, said seat, said front link, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the support betweenthe pivotal connections of the,

connecting link'with thesupport and ofthe seat with the supportforming the links of. a: fouri-bar;

link-mechanism, aback-rest, said back-rest bee ing pivoted to said support at a point spaced from and, out of coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection of the seat with the support, saidback-rest having a downward extension pro,-

jecting beyondits pivotal connection with the,

support, a lower link, thelrear' end of said lower link being pivoted to, said, downward extension,

of. the backerest below. the: pivotalconnection between the back-rest and the support the front; portion of said lower -link being pivoted to atpoint' of the connecting link spacedfrom: its" pivotalconnection with the front link; and means where. by the efiectivelength of said-seat may be varied and adjusted; l

6. A reclining article of furniture, compris ing: a support, a seat pivoted to saidsupport at its rear end portion, a connecting link; theupper portion of said-connecting link being pivoted tosaidsupportat a point' spaced from the piv-- otal connectionbetween the seat and the sup port, a front link, the upper end portion of said front link beingpivoted to thefront portion of said seat, the-lower end portion of said front link being pivoted'to-the lower portion of 'said connecting link, said-seat, said'front' link, said connecting link and the stationary portion of thesupport between thepivotal connectionsof the connecting link withthe support and of the seat with the supportformingthe links of a fourbar link mechanism, a back-rest, sai'd back-rest being pivotedto saidsupport at a point spaced from andout'of'coaxial alignment with thepiv otalconnection of the seat with the supportisaid back-rest having a downward extensionproject ing beyond its pivotal connection with the sup:

port; a'lower link; the rear--end of said lower link being pivoted to said downward extension of the back restbelow the pivotal connection between the back restandithe support; the frontportion of said lower-link beingpivoted'to a point of the connecting link spaced" from its pivotal'connectionwith-the front-link, and lockinggmeans' associated with at least-"twomembers of the ar ticle, at" least-one of Isaidmembers being a mem ber' ofthe linkag'e'including said connecting link;

saidlowerlink and said downward extension of the back-rest for locking said linkage with the" back-rest in a predeterminedposition. p

7; A" reclining articleof furniture, comprising? a support, a seat'pivoted to saidsupport' at'lts,v rear endv portion, a connecting link,,the upper. portion,ofisaidfconnecting link being pivoted to saidsupport ata point spacedfrom the pivotal connectionbetween'the seat and the support; a,

. front link, the upper end portion of said front linkbe'ing pivotedito the front portion of said seat, the lower end portion of said front link: beingpivotedto the lower portion of i said connecting link, saidiseat; said-front link, saitl 0011+ necting link and the stationary portion of'the, support between the pivotal connections of" the, connecting link "with the support and ofj'the seat. with the support forming the, linksof' a fourrb'ar. link-mechanism, a. backrrest, said? backerest being pivoted tofsaidsuppor'tt atia point spacedj'fiiom.

and out of coax'ial'j alignment with the pivotal? being pivoted to' said. downwardexteilsion of, the,

connectionoi'fthe seat withthe support, sai'di backerest, having. a downwardex'tension projecting beyond its pivotal connectionwith thefsupport. a lower. link, therear end of said .lower link,

back-rest below. the. pivotal connection between? the back -rest and. the support, the, front portion, of said-lower, link heingpivotedto a point of the connecting spaced J from, its pivotal) co nnec tion withthefront link, andllocking, means as sociated withcsaidl seat and r said support;-v for lockingsaidzseat inza: predetermined 1 position.

8a A reclining article of furniture, comprising; a support, alseat. pivoted" to said support: at, its: rear, end portion, a connecting; link, the 'upneix portion of. said: connecting, ,link ,being; piyotedtd said support at 8;. point spaced, from the pivotal connection between the;v seat and; the; t support; a

frontjink, thenpper endlportionzof said: from? en ear link being, pivoted tothe front portion of said seat, the lower end portion of said front link being pivoted to the lower portion of said connecting link, said seat, said front link, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the support between the pivotal connections of the connecting link with the support and of the seat with the support forming the links of a four-bar link-mechanism, a back rest, said back-rest being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from and out of coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection of the seat with the support, said back rest having a downward extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the support, a lower link, the rear end of said lower link being pivoted to said downward extension of the back -rest below the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the support, the front portion of saidlower link being pivoted to a point of the connecting link spaced from its pivotal connection with the front link, a leg-rest swingably mounted onthe front portion of the seat, and means for controlling the movements of said legrest independence on the movements of a movable member of the article. i

9. A reclining article of furniture, comprising a support, a seat pivoted to said support at its rear end portion, a connecting link, the upper portion of said connecting link being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the seat and the support, a front link, the upper end portion of said front link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, the lower end portion of said front link being pivoted to the lower portion of said connecting link, said seat, said front link, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the support between the pivotal connections of the connecting link with the support and of the seat with the support forming the links of a four-bar link-mechanism, a back-rest, said back-rest beingpivotedto said support at a point spaced from and out of coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection of the seat with the support, said back-rest having a downward extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the support, a lower link, the rear end of said lower link being pivoted to said downward extension of the back-rest below' the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the support, the front portion of said lower link being pivoted to a point of the connecting link spaced from its pivotal connection with the front link, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of the seat, and a controlling link, said controlling'link being pivoted' at one of its ends to said downward extension of the back-rest, and said controlling link being pivoted at its other end to said leg-rest. '10. A reclining article of furniture, comprising: a support, a seat pivoted to said support at its rear end portion, a connecting link, the upper portion of said connecting link being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the seat and the support, a front link, the upper end portion of said front link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, the lower end portion of said front link being pivoted to the lower portion of said connecting link, said seat, said front link, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the support between the pivotal connections of the connecting link with the support and of the seat with the support forming the links of a fourbar link-mechanism, a back-rest, said back-rest being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from and out of coaxial alignment with the 12 pivotal connection of the seat with the support, said back-rest having a downward extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the support, a lower link, the rear end of said lower link being pivoted to said downward extension-of the back-rest below the pivotal connection be-' tween the back-rest and the support, the front portion of said lower link being pivoted to a point of the connecting link spaced from its pivotal connection with the front link, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of the seat, a controlling link, said controlling link being pivoted at one of its ends to said downward extension of the back-rest and at its other end to said leg-rest, and means whereby the effective length of said controlling link may be varied and adjusted. i

11. A reclining article of furniture, comprising: a support,'a seat pivoted to said support at its rear end portion, a connecting link, the upper portion of said connecting link being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the seat and the support, a"

front link, the upper end portion of said front link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, the lower end portion of said front link being pivoted to the lower portion of said connecting link, said seat, said front link, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the support between the pivotal connections of the connecting link with the support and of the seat with the support forming the links of a four-bar link mechanism, a back-rest, said back-rest being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from and out of coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection of the seat with the support, said back-rest having a downward extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the support, and a lower link, the rear end of said lower link being pivoted to said downward extension of the back-rest below the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the support, and the front portion of said lower link being pivoted to an intermediate point of the connecting link between its pivotal connections with the front link and the support.

12. A reclining article of furniture, comprising a support, a seat pivoted to said support at its rear end portion, a connecting link, said connecting link being in the shape of a bent link, the upper portion of said connecting link being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the seat and the support, a front'link, the upper end portion of said front link being pivoted to the front portion of said'seat, the lower end portion of said front link being pivoted to the lower portion of said connecting link, said seat, said front link, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the support between the pivotal connections of the connecting link withthe support and of the seat with thesupport forming the links of a four-bar linkmechanism, a back-rest, said back-rest being pivoted to said support ,at a point spaced from and out of' coaxial alignment with .the pivotal conn'ec'tion'of the seat with the support, said back-rest having a downward extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the support, and a lower link, the rear end of said lower link being pivoted'to said downward extension of the back-rest below the pivotal connection between the back rest and the support, and the front portion of saidlower link being pivoted to apoint ofyfthe connecting link spaced from its pivotalconnection with the front link.

13. A reclining article of furniture, comprising: a support, a seat pivoted to said support at its rear end portion, a connecting link, the upper portion of said connectinglink being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the seat and the support, a front link, the upper end portion of said front link being "pivoted to the front portion of said seat, the lower end portion of said front link being pivoted tothe lower portion of said connecting link, said seat, said front link, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the support between the pivotal connections of the connecting link with the support and of the seat with the support forming the links of a four-bar linkmechanism, a back-rest, said back-rest being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from and out of alignment with the pivotal connection of the seat with the support, said back-rest having a downward extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the support, a lower link, the rear end of said lower link being pivoted to said downward extension of the back-rest below the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the support, the front portion of said lower link being pivoted to a point of the connecting link spaced from its pivotal connection with the front link, and means whereby the effective length of said front link may be varied and adjusted.

14. A reclining article of furniture, comprising: a support, a seat pivoted to said support at its rear end portion, a connecting link, the upper portion of said connecting link being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the seat and the support, a front link, the upper end portion of said front link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, the lower end portion of said front link being pivoted to the lower portion of said connecting link, said seat, said front link, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the support between the pivotal connections of the connecting link with the support and of the seat with the support forming the links of a four-bar link-mechanism, a back-rest, said back-rest being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from and out of alignment with the pivotal connection of the seat with the support, said back-rest having a downward extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the support, a lower link, the rear end of said lower link being pivoted to said downward extension of the back-rest below the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the support, the front portion of said lower link being pivoted to a point of the connecting link spaced from its pivotal connection with the front link, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of the seat, said leg-rest having an extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the seat, and a controlling link, one end of said controlling link being pivoted to said extension of the leg-rest, and the other end of said controlling link being pivoted to said back-rest.

15. A reclining article of furniture, comprising: a support, a seat pivoted to said support at its rear end portion, a unit, said unit being swingably mounted at its upper portion on said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the seat and the support, at least one front link, the upper end portion of said front link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, the lower end portion of said front link being pivoted to the lower portion of said unit, a backrest, said back-rest being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from and out of alignment with the pivotal connection of the seat with the support, said back-rest having a downward extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the support, and at least one lower link, the rear end of said lower link being pivoted to said downward extension of the back-rest below the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the support, and the front portion of said lower link being pivoted to a point of said unit spaced from the pivotal connection of the latter with the front link.

16. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 15, said unit including a rod and at least one connecting link, said connecting link being positively connected at its lower portion with said rod.

17. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 15, said unit including a rod and at least one connecting link, and said unit being made of an integral piece of material.

ANTON LORENZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,433,521 Lorenz Dec. 30, 1947 2,472,854 Lorenz June 14, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 5,725 Great Britain Apr. 19, 1887 

